President Bola Tinubu has expressed relief and gratitude following the successful rescue of 15 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and six other Nigerians who were abducted in Kogi State.
The 21 victims, comprising 13 females and eight males, were kidnapped while travelling along the Ofu/Itobe–Onicha-Igo axis after departing the NYSC orientation camp in Bayelsa State for Abuja.
They were rescued during a coordinated afternoon search-and-rescue operation carried out by a joint security team comprising personnel of the Nigerian military, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and local vigilantes.
According to the account of the operation, the team tracked the kidnappers to a hideout deep in the forests of Ofu Local Government Area, where all 21 abductees were successfully freed.
Following the rescue, the victims were taken for medical attention as authorities prepared to reunite them with their families.
President Tinubu, in a statement shared on his official X account, commended the security personnel and local collaborators involved in the operation, while directing security agencies to maintain pressure on the fleeing kidnappers.
The President also vowed that those responsible for the abduction, as well as anyone found to have aided or supported the crime, would face the full weight of the law.
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating a safer environment for Nigerians to travel freely across the country, stressing that the protection of NYSC members and other citizens remains a priority.
The successful operation comes amid continued security concerns along major highways and travel routes, particularly in areas affected by kidnapping and other forms of criminality.
